APPENDIX B
CONSTITUTION

Article 2.51   Responsibility for the government of a particular church belongs to the session, which is composed     of the minister in charge and the elders elected by the congregation and installed as members of the session.  The session thus constituted is responsible to lead the members in all those ministries which belong to the church:   
    a.     Public worship, including praying, singing of praises, reading the scriptures, presenting tithes and offerings, preaching the word, and celebrating the sacraments:
    b.    Christian education, including study of the scriptures for Christian growth;
    c.    Activities of fellowship appropriate to the family of God;
    d.    Personal witness to unbelievers and to those out of fellowship with the church;
    e.    Visitation of the sick;
    f.    Pastoral care of families, especially disturbed and broken families;
    g.     Stewardship of time, talents, and money, and the care and use of the properties of the church;
    h.    Exercise of discipline.
    i.     Participation in the ministry of the church beyond the bounds of the local congregation; and in such other ministries as appear needful. Leading the people in these ministries may be done by appointing them to serve with elders on various committees representing different areas of ministry; and by directing them as individuals in the life of the church.
    
Article 2.72     In caring for and leading the congregation which they serve, elders shall be particularly attentive     to persons who have not confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, those who are spiritually weak, and those who need to be instructed in the faith.  They shall visit the people in their homes, praying with and for them, especially for the sick, those who mourn, and others in need. They should encourage the people by word and example to share in the worship, study, witness and service of the church through a faithful stewardship of their time, talents, and money.  They should inform the pastor of any concerns that need his or her attention.
    
Article 2.73    Persons who fill the office of elder may be male or female, young or old.  Elders share in the     same vocation that belongs to all Christians to be witnesses to the gospel, but the vocation of this office places an additional responsibility of leadership upon them.  They should exemplify the gospel by their good character, sound faith, wisdom, maturity of judgment, discretion, conversation, knowledge of the doctrine and government of the church, and competency to perform the duties of the office.
    
Article 2.74    Persons who accept the responsibilities of the office of elder should engage in such study and     preparation as are appropriate to the office, and during their tenure on the session shall continue to study in order better to perform their duties.

    Article: 4.5    The session is charged with pastoral oversight of the particular church and has the responsibility to:
    a.    Call a pastor (also an associate/assistant pastor) subject to the approval of presbytery;
    b.    Receive members into the church;
    c.    Resolve questions of doctrine and discipline in the congregation;
    a.    Admonish or suspend members found guilty in a disciplinary hearing, subject to appeal to presbytery;
    e.    Urge upon parents the importance of presenting their children for baptism;
    f.     Grant letters of dismission, which when given for parents shall always include the names of their baptized children;
    g.     Ordain and install elders and deacons when elected and require these officers to devote themselves to their responsibilities;
    h.    Examine the proceedings and supervise the work of the deacons;
    i.     Establish and give oversight to church schools, Bible classes, fellowship and other organizations within the church, with special attention being given to nurture of the children;
    j.     Encourage the stewardship of church members, order and supervise collections for Godly purposes, and in general, oversee the finances of the church;
    k.    Assemble the congregation and provide for worship when there is no minister;
    l.     Initiate and coordinate the best measures for promoting and extending the work of the church;
    m.     Elect representatives to the higher church judicatories, and require on their return a report of their diligence and the decisions of the judicatory;
    n.    Observe and carry out the injunctions of the higher judicatories.